The yard around the Marty Jones for City Council sign was a mess. The Marty Jones mentioned on the sign looked at his name before taking in the scenery. The yard’s grass was choked with giant weeds while gnome hats and pink flamingo heads peeked out over the disheveled lawn. Halloween decorations and spider webs seemed to be crowding out last year’s Christmas decorations. Of course, the Christmas decorations could have been much older than just last year.
The other houses on the block had perfectly cut green grass. The flower beds were tidy and the Halloween decorations tasteful. The street was split 50/50 with signs in front yards for Marty and his opponent.
Marty took a deep breath and made his way up the stairs to the front door. He tried to avoid the various items, shovels, hoses and empty kombucha bottles that littered the path. Marty was there on a mission. He rang the doorbell.
A husband and wife opened the door. The couple was put together. They looked like they could have emerged from any of the other houses on the street.
“Hi, I’m Marty Jones, and I’m running for city council.”
The couple lit up. The wife did all of the talking. “Marty, it’s so nice to meet you. We are excited to vote for you. Hank, go stand next to Marty, and we’ll take a picture.”
Marty posed for the picture and smiled alongside the husband.
“Listen, I love the support,” Marty said, “But I’m here to ask if I could spruce up your front yard a little bit.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I could help clean it up a bit. I could even mow it.”
The husband and wife looked at each other before the wife responded, “We like our yard. It has a lot of character. Plus, letting it go like this is better for the environment.”
“Sure, I understand,” Marty agreed, while searching his mind for a new tactic. “I think it’s a great yard. It’s outside the box.”
“And you’re outside the box,” the wife cut in. “It’s the perfect yard for your sign.”
“Well, the thing is, my campaign feels like it’s backfiring a little,” Marty said. “Having my sign in your yard is hurting my image. I’m trying to bring order to a town going through a rough transition. But this yard…”
“This yard, what?” the wife asked.
Marty answered in his best political speak, “It’s a little chaotic.”
The husband turned around and went inside.
“Maybe you’re the wrong candidate to vote for,” the wife said.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Marty said. “But then I guess you don’t need my sign in your yard anymore.”
“Why would we get rid of it?” the wife asked. “You just told us it was hurting your campaign. Seems like we should keep it.”
“Maybe I’ll just take it with me,” Marty said.
“That’s actually a great idea,” the wife said. “I’m going to make a sign with that picture you took with Hank. That way, everyone will know that you’re with us.”